The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-09-24
RALPH'S SELF-DENlAL.
How He Proved Himself to be a Charm
ing Man of the House.

ing man OF JHe HOUSE,
al will take Ralph, Jemima!"
Take Ralph, lchabod! can't think
of such a thing | can't spare my boy.
There are so few of us now, brother"
but what, under the canopy, are
you going to do with n great growing
boy, eating you outof house and home,
at the age when he needs Il man to look
after him, too? | tell you, Jcmima, it's
nonsense. Bundle up the boys clothes
and let him Jump into the cart and go
with me. His aunt Polly'll see that
he has plenty to do, and he can stop in
now and then to see you on market
days, if you like. Wen do well by t e
boy, Jemima. Don't turn away fair
offer. Come, Ralph, you know which
side your bread is buttered on. You
want to 90 nome with me, don't youP'
1t hardly seemed possible that this
coarse-looking red-faced man, regl-
lar Uncle Pumblechook of man, could
be own brother to the slender, refined
woman in widows mourning against
whom the boy was leaning, his arm
thrown fondly around her shoulder.
The thought of living with Uncle lcha-
bod and Aunt Polly was hateful, and
Ralph shuddered at the bare idea.
But he was q well-trained boy and
politely answered: II can not leave
mamma, uncle. Papa told me that l
was to be the man of the house.
Papa had died month ago.
"Humph! Pretty man of the house
You'll be! Need man over yoU
say!" And storming and clustering,
Uncle Ichabod departed, slamming the
door behind him, and driving old
Whiteface clatterty-bang down the
road at great pace.
81 hope I've done wisely, Ralph,
said Mrs. Afford, smoothing back hel
boys fair hair 1--WE have very little
money, and your uncle is rich"
II won't eat any more than l can
help, mamma, and I'd stop growing SO
fast if possibly could. "
"Bless the dear child! Eat all you
want, laddie. and don't worry about
growing The sooner you grow to be
a tall M n, as papa was, the sooner
you will be able to take good care Of
mamma and your sisters"
If there was very little money in the
Affords home, there was something
much better-a great deal OF loye
Mrs. Afford knew how to be merry
over bread and milk, and not to cloud
her children's pleasure, she kept {
cheerful face ever when she felt sac
and lonely. Ralph went to school
every day, and tried not to worry his
mother by complaints; but it was hare
for boy of eleven to wear trousers
which were too short in the legs, anC
Jackets which persisted in getting tigh
over the chest, with sleeves which
crept halfway to the elbow.
One day Miss Meredith, his teache
in the day-school where he attended
asked him to remain few moments
She knew how bravely and patientl.
the little man of the house was bearing
his heavy burden, and so she wished t
encourage him all she could, and keel
! his sp rits up.
"Ralph, dear" she said
"Yes, Miss Meredith"
! "You are a wonderfully good reade
for your age. Haven't you been use
to reading aloudP'
Eyes, Miss Meredith" answere
D Ralph; 81 used TO read to papa ever
a day, the paper and stories and poetr
: and the Bible"
5 81 thought so. Now have a prC
posal to make. There is blind lad
in the house where l board; she II
: uuires somebody to anu G her; and sh
a will pay three dollars week to a pc
i son who can read to her two houl
= every day. have been thinking tn
could excuse you every morning at